Monthly Archives: May 2016

‘The global community is badly prepared for a rapid increase in climate change-related natural disasters that by 2050 will put 1.3 billion people at risk’ according to the World Bank. Urging better planning of cities before it was too late, a report published on Monday from a Bank-run body that focuses on disaster mitigation, said assets worth $158tn – double the total annual output of the global economy – would be in jeopardy by 2050 without preventative action.

Cecilia Reyes, chief risk officer of Zurich Insurance Group, said: “Climate change is exacerbating more risks than ever before in terms of water crises, food shortages, constrained economic growth, weaker societal cohesion and increased security risks.“Meanwhile, geopolitical instability is exposing businesses to cancelled projects, revoked licences, interrupted production, damaged assets and restricted movement of funds across borders. These political conflicts are in turn making the challenge of climate change all the more insurmountable – reducing the potential for political cooperation, as well as diverting resource, innovation and time away from climate change resilience and prevention.” – this comment was in context of the Global Risks Report 2016 produced by World Economic Forum in collaboration with Marsh and McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group.

A series of fund-raising pledges by countries and cutting down of global emissions have been agreed to. Salient points are as follows:

Long-term global goal for ‘net-zero emissions’ – The time-frame agreed to for this global pledge is second half of this century. However, the significance of this lies in the fact that a clear economic message has been passed on to the markets, hopefully driving action.

Pledges of cut in carbon emissions- Although not legally binding, 187 countries have submitted this pledge (Intended Nationally Defined Contributions, or INDCs)

Stock-taking every five years – First global stock-taking in 2023, and then after every five years to stay firmly on track

Funds – Members in a non-legal way, are required to mobilize funds to help developing countries to adapt to climate change and move on to cleaner economy.

Well, no strict deadlines…no fixed fund flow from one country to another…but a clear realization that Climate Change is Real, and we need to act as One. Action of one not only affects that country but the world as a whole…and so the Paris Agreement…

A step in the right direction…!

In the next few blogs, discussion on the urgency to Act, several ways in which we as individuals can be a part of Solution, the Waste Connection to Climate change……..

Use lesser electricity and water, plant more trees…these are the most direct ways to reversing Climate change…!!!

What is Climate Change?

“Climate change is a long-term shift in weather conditions identified by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds, and other indicators…its long-term state and average temperature are regulated by the balance between incoming and outgoing energy, which determines the Earth’s energy balance.”(Govt. of Canada)

The change can be induced by natural factors as well as human factors. Natural factors comprise primarily volcanic eruption and solar activity. While the effect on climate of former is for a shorter period, the later can influence in a longer period; however its effect is much less in the past century as compared to that of human activity. Human factors mostly are related to burning of fossil fuel and change in the land-use pattern. This leads to increase in levels of carbon-dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. An enhanced ‘greenhouse effect’ results has resulted in warming of the Earth. It is to be noted that carbon dioxide and nitrous dioxide are long-lived ‘climate forcers’, i.e. they stay in the atmosphere and impact the climate change for a long time.

(Source: http://climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=65CD73F4-1)

So here comes the Solution – anything which reduces the carbon dioxide emission in the air, is the best way to fight Climate change!!!

Do come back for more on Paris Climate Deal, more examples of Climate change around the World…and more facets of Climate Change…

To me, and I am sure, to many others, every passing day is proving that ‘Climate Change’ is a ‘real thing’…Still, not all are convinced…and to change their view, I am writing this post! Because, I believe that as we, the World, take longer to be convinced, we are losing precious time to reverse the ‘Change’. Also through my posts leading up to June 5, th World Environment Day, I would be highlighting its different facets as well as steps that need to be taken to save ourselves and our future generations of its disastrous effects.

Only today, I heard the news of ‘Canada Wildfire’ covering 8oo square km of Alberta province of Canada. Wildfires occur, but not in this scale, both distance and time-wise, in this area. Increasing temperatures and dry winter, created the conditions for fire of this scale.

Back home in India, a unseasonal and severe heat wave has claimed several lives as early as in April 2016. Worst hit is the southern state of Telangana. In several other parts, record high temperatures have been observed leading to early school vacations and changed office timings, caution statements for citizens being issued by State Governments and several other adjustments.

Heat wave in India (Pic: Courtesy The Hindu)

In the coming posts, we will look further into such unseasonal occurrences across the World. Also in the next post, I would focus on how each one of us can become a part of the Solution to combat Climate Change. Do stay with me on that…!